Eww battle systems.

See my problem with gameplay in RPG Maker is that it's so hard to get any (the default battle system is a catastrophe, and most people can't be bothered to come up with custom systems or minigames/puzzles in 2/3 weeks). Frankly, I hoped CG3 would have no battles at all (which is why my part has none!), but that's just my personal preference.

Also guys, we had this argument before CG2 and CG3. Everyone had those ideas and everyone wanted the next game to be the best thing ever. We tried new ideas, set new rules, and all that. Thing is, most of these ideas don't work. Also, CG2 had an equally bad reception if I recall correctly. The idea just died after CG1 or something, so don't be too harsh on 3!

To force a coherent game on people is against the spirit of the chain game. While it might be interested for a group of people to try to work on some solid game with a clear idea and all, it's just not fun and too demanding. So is to expect all parts to follow one vision (such as: all gameplay, all story, etc.). While it is expected that chapters somehow makes sense in relation to previous chapters, that's more of a hint than a requirement (at least in CG1 and 3). We should never worry about the game becoming 'too weird' as it is the player's fault for assuming too much from a game made by different people and with loose guidelines. I actually like that aspect of chain games.

It's important to realize that no matter what rules we set, someone will break them, and the game ALWAYS fall apart somewhere around the middle, there is simply no way around it aside from actually setting criteria for what parts are accepted and not, and that's just elitist if anything.

My point: CG4 should NOT break away from the Chain Game concept, even if the last game didn't fare well (G&D people are pretty dumb anyway, and we all know it).

BTW, CG3 took far less time than CG2 and is WAY better, in my opinion. The 'rules' set early on for CG2 (it was supposed to be a series coherent game or something) resulted in some of the worst plot twists and inconsistity starting from MDN's chapter (where the _ban_ on the use of 'cheese' was broken).

DP's more gameplay-oriented idea of the dungeon might work, but as I said earlier it'd only work if people put effort in their chapters, and aside from a few people, they WON'T (remember that the initial enthusiasm to create the best game ever wears off during the year or so the game takes to be done). It'd be just like other Chain Games because you were always allowed to just add dungeons or maps that didn't add or take from the story in earlier games, and some people did (like that cool item in CG2). I think we should allow people to add story if they like, it's not like there's any other attraction to most RPG games, if every participant in the Chain Game was DP then sure, you'd have a good game with lots of puzzles and gameplay and no plot, but that's asking for too much of your average RPG Maker user.

I agree with any attempts to ban default battles or decrease them, they are just not very fun. I could endure the turn based battles of RM2K, but not the horrible ATB of 2k3.

Any attempts to break the game progress into phases or groups doesn't feel very Chain Game to me.

Comedy is cool, no rules are cool, ALEX is cool. Schools and sim games aren't, though. You can't fight cliches just by changing the setting. CG2 starts in a modern settings but somehow ends up in medieval ones, it seems like I keep repeating myself but YOU CAN'T ASSUME THAT PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE FIRST CHAPTER. When we came up with a nice system to overcome the lameness of leveling in CG3, most people simply didn't use it. Same would happen if we come up with a new battle system or anything. Random titles would be a nice addition, but not really a big one (people can get away with small references to the title, if any).

Well, I guess my position is that whatever ideas you guys are coming up with will probably not work so we might as well have no rules and just make CG3 all over again, maybe with a different development process to get over the problem of 'taking too long'. Unless you could somehow convince me people will put effort in their chapters this time (right).

This is just my opinion, if enough people like a certain idea then sure, we could try it. Oh, and I'm not going to be in charge of CG4, sorry but I don't really have the time. I don't mind creating the sign up topic , making a chapter, and helping with testing, but I'll probably be out of GW before this game ever sees the light so... Ask DP, Impeal, Erave, UPRC, I do a better job of complaining about the game taking too long when I'm in a spectator position than when I'm in charge of it!

That's you being pretty unreasonable Mirthless. I personally have no objections to you taking the lead and making the first chapter. I appreciate your enthusiasm. However, we should talk it through before we start. Half planned is half done, right?

After reading RPG's post I changed my view a little. CG4 should have no rules. Just like Alex projects, the true fun of chain games IS the randomness. However, even if we have no rules there should be someone to overseer the game and censor/edit parts that are not fun (walking in the desert for 10 minutes).

Uh, Mirthless, idk. I wouldn't have any objections to you taking the lead, but personally, I think it should be taken up by someone who's done something good before, like RPG or DP. I'm not saying your section is CG3 was bad, but DP and RPG both brought out quality chapters that really stood out, hence my reasoning as to why I'd be more settled with them taking the lead. Could be just me, but whatever.

*shrug*

EDIT: Plus you've been here 5 years and only have ~900 posts...? Maybe that's the reason you don't feel part of the community?

Well, RPG said he doesn't want to take charge of CG4.

I think what we should do is get the names of everyone who is willing to lead CG4, make a poll, and let the people interested in working on the game decide who should "lead" them. Considering the fact that this is a chain game which many people work on, I don't think who takes charge should be chosen by a single individual, it should be more of a group decision.

if every participant in the Chain Game was DP then sure, you'd have a good game with lots of puzzles and gameplay and no plot, but that's asking for too much of your average RPG Maker user.

Chain Game 4, chapters 1-16 by DarkPriest

Nah, just kidding. I don't want to lead CG4 either. I think we could do with the following ruleset:

1) You can do whatever you want.
2) Only exception to rule #1 is: You cannot use the default rm2k3 battlesystem at all.
3) CG4 Overseer has the right to change your chapter in any way he likes.

What do you think?

I like #3, but I don't think the decision should be 100% the person in charge, maybe if like more than one tester points out something that just doesn't "work" then maybe then change it?

I'd be happy to start/co-lead/lead this project if you would want. I don't want to impose a bunch of rules. And Mirthless I don't think people are denying your ideas because of your status in the community. I think people were generally uninterested in it, sorry to say. But you're welcome to make a chapter and contribute anyway you can.

EDIT: We should decide on some boundaries but no specfics as in "Cave Crawler" "School based sim" "Futuristic." The first chapter will dictate how the game will progess and even that can lead to many possiblities. That's the fun of the Chain Game.

I would never agree to post a chapter for a community game where someone has the right to change anything I do.

Haven't just finished CG3, I definatly want to be a part of CG4. That game was frickin awesome.

I would highly suggest a medieval type setting as opposed to a futuristic one. It's just easier to script for imo.

 

I'd be happy to start/co-lead/lead this project if you would want.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

I vote for Erave being the leader as well, as I recall Easy Mac 2 was a chain game, and it was pretty beast.

For the setting, what if we just let the people divide into groups depending on what they want.

People who want one big map in one group,and people who want each part to progress forward.

Basically there will be several chapters, and you can choose to work on the chapter as a group or by yourself.

I think the only rule we should have is to make the story flow.
(also no shitiness, so if you use the battle system and it turns out to be boring, then the leader reserves the right to just take it out.)

I'll get this thing started this weekend. I'll get some ideas organized and get a game plan. Sound good? Any objections let me know.

Erave's opening chapter for CG2 was pretty neat so I'm cool with it.

Probably won't participate this time though, having participated in all 3 so far I've just completely lost interest now.